Release Notes

33 Dell PS Series Snapshots and Clones: Best Practices and Sizing Guidelines | BP1027
8 Summary
The snapshot and clone features of PS Series storage arrays provide a set of powerful data recovery features
delivered with every PS Series storage array. The information presented in this whitepaper can be used to
assist administrators in achieving the most from these features.
• As the results from the lab testing show, PS Series storage systems use efficient methods of creating
snapshots and clones that allow for instantaneous access as well as low latency and low disk
utilization during their creation.
• Snapshots and clone volumes can be used to enhance backup solutions by allowing applications and
volumes to remain online while a snapshot is created.
• Snapshots and clone volumes can be used to facilitate fast recovery of volumes and individual files.
• Snapshot reserve can be adjusted at any time to accommodate for changes in data access patterns,
or to make more efficient use of available free space in the pool.
• Application access patterns, whether they access data randomly or sequentially, may affect the
amount of snapshot reserve required.
• Auto-Snapshot Manager is included at no additional charge with every PS Series array and can be
used to automate and simplify the creation or scheduling of snapshots and clone volumes. ASM
creates application aware (or hypervisor aware) consistent snapshots and clones and aids in the
automated recovery of the data.
• SAN HQ, also included at no additional charge with PS Series arrays, allows an administrator to
monitor snapshot reserve usage and alerts from one or more PS Series groups.